Geography Education Research Project
Understanding the causes of poverty
Lesson 1 - The colonial era: ‘Off to a bad start’
1.)
These countries are
poor because they
don’t have many
natural resources!
They are poor
because they are
too hot and dry!
This is how many people understand why poverty
exists. A country’s climate is too hot or dry to grow
crops which makes it hard to feed people. People
also think that countries are poor because they lack
natural resources. But beware: these are not the
main reasons!
Many poor African countries have a wet climate e.g.
D.R. Congo, Central African Republic, Mozambique,
Burundi and Guinea Bissau. Many poor African
countries also have a great abundance of natural
resources e.g. Central African Republic (diamonds),
Burundi (gold), Zimbabwe (coal, chromium ore),
Liberia (iron ore & diamonds).
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2.)
Welcome to the Berlin Conference
of 1884. Who wants a slice of
Africa? OK, Britain this slice is
yours, France this is yours,
Germany, this is ours!
Between 1884 and 1914 there was a ‘scramble for
Africa’. During this 30 year period European powers
such as Britain, France & Germany all wanted to
create large Empires. They carved up Africa into
completely new countries called colonies.
The European Powers had complete political control
over these colonies. The colonies supplied raw
materials for European industry e.g. Copper in Zambia
and ground nuts and cotton in Senegal and Mali They
also supplied food to Europe and acted as a market
for European manufactured products.
Manufacturing was discouraged as it might
compete with European industry.
The colonies made European countries and
businesses very wealthy.
Geography Education Research Project
Understanding the causes of poverty
3.)
Colonialism completely disrupted the politics and economy of
Africa. European rule in Africa meant that the colonies
became dependent in three ways:
Europe
Raw
materials
i.
Political dependency: Colonies became dependent on
outsiders making decisions for them. This gave them
little experience of running a government.
ii.
Export dependency: Colonies became dependent on
European demand for their products. The European
powers replaced the ‘economic self-sufficiency’ found
across the continent with ‘mono-economies’
dominated by a single product exported to Europe.
Many African economies are still very dependent on
one main export and are vulnerable to changes in
global prices.
iii.
Investment dependency: Colonies became
dependent on European investment and did not have
enough money to build roads, ports, water supply
networks and efficient educational and health
services.
Political control
Food
Manufactured
products
Profits
Investment
Troops
Africa
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4.)
African countries got off
to a bad start
Colonialism was a bad start for many African
countries. These brand new countries were
created to be exploited and controlled by
powerful European countries.
Although African countries became
independent during the 1950s and 1960s
some forms of dependency still exist today.
However there is great hope for Africa. If it
took Europe many centuries to develop
good governance and escape poverty we
should not be too impatient if after 50 years
poverty still exists in Africa.
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Tasks:
a) Study the illustrations and texts 1-4. Carefully highlight what’s new for you.
b) Next take a blank sheet of paper and put this worksheet aside. Write a short text in which you explain,
in your own words, how the colonial era created poverty in many African countries. Do not refer to the
worksheet.
c)
Discuss your explanations with one of your classmates. Use the worksheet to correct your
explanations.